South American Mercenaries in Sudan Allegedly Recruited by UK-Registered Companies

Tucked away close to the shiny soccer ground of a Premier League club in London is a squat, nondescript apartment building. Behind its unremarkable facade lies a dark secret: a cramped second-floor apartment linked to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

According to British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a international network of firms involved in the mass recruitment of fighters to fight in Sudan alongside paramilitaries accused of myriad war crimes and genocide.

Hundreds of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted

Hundreds of former Colombian military personnel have been enlisted to fight with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction blamed for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of civilians.

Colombian mercenaries were key participants in the paramilitaries’ seizure of the south-western Sudanese city of El Fasher in late October, which triggered a wave of violence that analysts say has cost at least 60,000 lives.

As reports of violence increase, connections have been identified between the mercenaries hired to overrun El Fasher and locations in the city of London.

UK Address Connected to Censured Company

The flat in Tottenham is registered to a corporation called Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals identified and sanctioned last week by the American authorities for hiring contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their fifties – are listed in records at Companies House as resident in the United Kingdom.

The company remains operational. The following day the US treasury imposed restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the very heart of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to one luxury accommodation in a central district.

Both hotels stated they had no connection to Zeuz Global and were unaware why the company had used their postcodes.

"It is of serious worry that the primary figures the US government states are directing this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company operating from a flat in the capital," said Mike Lewis, a researcher and former member of a UN panel on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over UK Company Oversight

Analysts argue the saga raises concerns over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to seemingly establish and operate a firm in the British capital.

The British foreign secretary has condemned the RSF for "systematic killings, torture and assault" following the group’s seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide.

When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's operations or verify the location of the sanctioned individuals.

Reaching out to Zeuz was unsuccessful; its online site, set up in May, was labelled as "under construction" with no contact details.

Operation Headed by Retired Officer

Per the American authorities, the man at the heart of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer located in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of having a key part in hiring former Colombian soldiers to be deployed to Sudan using a Bogotá-based recruitment firm. His wife was also sanctioned for owning and managing the agency.

Another dual national was also sanctioned for overseeing a business accused of handling funds and salaries for the operation employing the Colombian fighters.

"In 2024 and 2025, US-based firms associated with this individual conducted numerous wire transfers, amounting to millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Company Registration and Escalating Violence

In spring of this year, the penalized figures set up a company in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was transferred to the hired fighters, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as holding "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control".

Both list the UK as their "country of residence".

Impact on the War and Wider Issues

The hiring of the Colombians has had a profound impact on the course of the war, analysts say. These nationals have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as acting as snipers, infantrymen, trainers, and pilots for drones.

These aircraft proved instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing daily fatalities," added the analyst. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a significant part of this outside support."

He noted that the involvement of sanctioned individuals in a London firm highlighted broader concerns over the absence of strict vetting when firms are set up.

"Having a UK company like this is a passport for criminals to do business with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he stated.

Official Reaction and Continuing Claims

A government source said that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was setting up and running UK firms.

The role of the South Americans in Sudan first emerged last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government.

One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher.

The UAE, long accused of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of the contractors. A report alleged that Emirati business people supplying Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has consistently denied these claims.

A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is calling for an halt to atrocities, the protection of non-combatants, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery."

They noted that the UK had recently sanctioned RSF commanders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.